Eucomis plant named &#39;Gsalkele&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  Eucomis  plant particularly distinguished by a short plant with a compact and full plant habit and a short flower stalk with fragrant white racemes and lanceolate leaves with strongly undulated margins, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Eucomis vandermerwei×Eucomis hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘GSALKELE’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Eucomis, botanically known as Eucomis vandermerwei, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘GSALKELE’. The new variety originated from a cross in Moss Landing, Calif. in May 1997 between the female Eucomis parent, an un-named Eucomis vandermerwei (unpatented) and the male Eucomis hybrida parent, ‘Hawkfall Hybrids’ (patent status unknown). A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and asexual propagation in Moss Landing, Calif.

The new plant was first asexually propagated in April 2003 in Moss Landing, Calif. and has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings and tissue culture for nine years in Moss Landing, Calif. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations by vegetative cuttings and tissue culture.

‘GSALKELE’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Moss Landing, Calif.

1. A short plant with a compact and full plant habit; and

2. A short flower stalk with fragrant white racemes and lanceolate leaves with strongly undulated margins.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Eucomis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the overall plant habit, foliage, buds, and blooms (mature and immature) of the plant. The colors are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of a two-year-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Moss Landing, Calif. in July 2012.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘GSALKELE’. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Moss Landing, Calif. The plant history was taken in June 2012 on two-year old plants based on a 1.75 inch to 2.25 inch-diameter bulb grown in summer greenhouse conditions in Moss Landing, Calif. Color references were taken under natural light and are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) 2001.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Asparagaceae.         -   Botanical name.—Eucomis vandermerwei×Eucomis hybrida.         -   Common name.—Pineapple Lily.         -   Denomination.—‘GSALKELE’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female.—An un-named Eucomis vandermerwei (unpatented).         -   Male.—Eucomis hybrida ‘Hawkfall Hybrids’ (patent status             unknown). -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Compact with leaves arranged more or less             symmetrically below the flower stalks; the overall effect of             the flower stalk is columnar with a topknot of leaves,             somewhat like a pineapple.         -   Height above the soil.—8.0 inches to 8.5 inches for a 1.75             inch to 2.25 inch bulb, depending on the greenhouse             conditions.         -   Height of top of raceme above the soil.—8.0 inches to 8.5             inches, depending on growing conditions.         -   Diameter of plant.—15.5 inches to 18.5 inches. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—More or less symmetrical below the flower             stalks; leaves arise from a common base meristem as in a             true bulb, where some bulbs in larger sizes have multiple             base meristems; leaf margins are strongly undulated.         -   Quantity (per plant).—Varies, but 10-20 is typical of a 1.75             inch to 2.25 inch bulb grown under bright greenhouse             conditions.         -   Width.—1.64 inches to 1.92 inches.         -   Length.—7.5 inches to 10.0 inches in greenhouse conditions,             but shaded plants and larger bulbs have longer leaves.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Contiguous with lanceolate leaf.         -   Margin.—Entire and continuous with strong undulation of the             edge.         -   Venation (both surfaces).—Parallel, with a slightly             impressed central vein on upper surface.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth and slightly glossy.         -   Color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 137A (Green). -   Topknot:     -   -   Form.—15-20 miniature leafy bracts atop the raceme stalk and             arranged in more or less a symmetrical pattern, radiating             from the apex and resembling a pineapple topknot;             approximately 1.0 inches to 1.25 inches in height and 0.45             inches to 0.62 inches in diameter.         -   Size.—2.5 inches to 2.7 inches in diameter.         -   Color.—RHS 137A (Green). -   Bulb:     -   -   Size.—1.5 inches to 3.0 inches in diameter.         -   Color.—RHS 200A to RHS 200C (Brown) for the outer leaf             scales.         -   Shape.—Non-tunicate. -   Raceme:     -   -   Height.—4.7 inches to 6.0 inches.         -   Diameter.—1.75 inches to 2.0 inches.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—56-98 days,             dependent on post-harvest storage duration and growing             conditions.         -   Number of flowers per bulb.—One or more racemes, depending             on the bulb size.         -   Lastingness of individuals flowers on the plant.—14 to 28             days.         -   Fragrance.—Present, similar to that of coconut oil.         -   Bud.—Shape: Elliptic Length: 0.34 inches to 0.51 inches             Width: 0.22 inches to 0.34 inches Color: RHS 155B (White).         -   Flower.—Form: Individual flowers are clustered symmetrically             around the top 33% to 50% of one to multiple racemes             protruding at foliage level even with the foliage; flowers             open from the bottom to the top of the stem Diameter:             Individual flowers are 0.78 inches to 0.94 inches when open             and clustered around the stalk or axis Perianth lobes:             Quantity per flower: 6 perianth lobes subtended by size             Color: RHS 155B Shape: Ovate Apex: Acute Base: Broad Margin:             Straight, smooth, and entire Texture (both surfaces):             Smooth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Number of anthers: 6 Filament color: RHS 155B             (White) Filament length: 0.28 inches to 0.34 inches Pollen             color: RHS 4A (Pale Yellow) to RHS 5B (Ivory) Pollen amount:             Slight.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil number: 1 Pistil length: 0.35 inches to             0.44 inches Stigma color: RHS 4C (Light Yellow) to RHS 155B             (White) Style color: RHS 158D to RHS 155D (Yellow-White)             from base to tip Style length: 0.19 inches to 0.20 inches             Style shape: Pyramidal cone. -   Fruit and seed set: At maturity, the plant sets a dried, papery,     flower-sized pod holding one to multiple seeds; seeds are ovoid,     hard, glossy black RHS 202A and 0.1 inches to 0.2 inches in length. -   Disease and insect resistance: Pests and diseases are few; mealybugs     can occasionally harbor deep in the bulb scales; Pythium can attack     roots.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘GSALKELE’ differs from the female parent, an un-named Eucomis vandermerwei (unpatented), in that blooms of ‘GSALKELE’ have a pleasant fragrance similar to that of coconut oil, while E. vandermerwei has blooms with a fetid odor. Blooms of ‘GSALKELE’ are white, while blooms of E. vandermerwei are purplish-burgundy. The leaves and raceme axis of ‘GSALKELE’ are plain, while the leaves and raceme axis of E. vandermerwei are covered with many purplish-burgundy spots.

‘GSALKELE’ differs from the male parent, Eucomis hybrida ‘Hawkfall Hybrids’ (patent status unknown), in that blooms of ‘GSALKELE’ have a pleasant fragrance similar to that of coconut oil, while E. hybrida has blooms with a fetid odor. Bulbs of ‘GSALKELE’ produce a larger number of flowers (25%-50%) than are produced by similar sized bulbs of ‘Hawkfall Hybrids’. Bulbs of ‘GSALKELE’ produce a larger number of leaves (25%-50%) than are produced by similar sized bulbs of ‘Hawkfall Hybrids’

‘GSALKELE’ differs from the commercial comparison, an un-named Eucomis comosa (unpatented), in that ‘GSALKELE’ has white flowers, while E. comosa has creamy lavender flowers. ‘GSALKELE’ has more flower spikes (3 to 5 times more) than E. comosa from the same sized bulb. ‘GSALKELE’ has flower spikes that are half or less than the height produced by E. comosa. ‘GSALKELE’ has shorter leaves than E. comosa (E. comosa has leaves that are 1 to 4 times larger).

‘GSALKELE’ differs from the commercial comparison, an un-named Eucomis autumalis (unpatented) in that ‘GSALKELE’ has a larger number of flowers (25% to 50% to more flowers) than E. autumalis (when produced by similar sized bulbs). Additionally, the flower spike length of ‘GSALKELE’ is 25% to 50% shorter than the flower spike length of E. autumalis. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Eucomis plant as shown and described herein. 